U.S. patent number 11,453,166 [Application Number 16/615,107] was granted by the patent office on 2022-09-27 for uv curing apparatus for 3d printing product.
This patent grant is currently assigned to HUAIYIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. The grantee listed for this patent is HUAIYIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Invention is credited to Yuwei Dong, Zhengbang Dong, Yingying Guan, Aihui Liu, Jinlin Wan, Kewei Wang, Lechao Wang, Yingyu Wang, Wenjin Zhao.
United States Patent |
11,453,166 |
Dong , et al. |
September 27, 2022 |
UV curing apparatus for 3D printing product
Abstract
The present invention discloses a UV curing apparatus for a 3D
printing product, including a base. A tray is disposed above the
base. The tray is horizontally and rotatably connected around a
vertical rotating shaft on the base. A hood concentric with the
tray is disposed on the base. The tray is located in the hood, and
UV light tubes are arranged on an inner wall of the hood. The tray
provides a driving force by means of a driving motor. The driving
motor is fixed in the base. As can be seen from the foregoing
structure, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing
product in the present invention, a UV curing apparatus applicable
to a 3D product is provided, and the surface of the 3D product can
be automatically and uniformly subjected to UV curing.
Inventors: |
Dong; Yuwei (Huaian,
CN), Liu; Aihui (Huaian, CN), Dong;
Zhengbang (Huaian, CN), Wang; Yingyu (Huaian,
CN), Zhao; Wenjin (Huaian, CN), Wang;
Kewei (Huaian, CN), Wan; Jinlin (Huaian,
CN), Guan; Yingying (Huaian, CN), Wang;
Lechao (Huaian, CN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HUAIYIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
Huaian |
N/A |
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HUAIYIN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
(Huaian, CN)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006585243 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/615,107 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2018 |
PCT
Filed: |
January 30, 2018 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/CN2018/074527 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 19, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/218978 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
December 06, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20200171748 A1 |
Jun 4, 2020 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 31, 2017 [CN] |
|
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201710399857.9 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C
64/291 (20170801); B29C 64/30 (20170801); B29C
71/04 (20130101); B33Y 40/20 (20200101); B33Y
30/00 (20141201); B29C 64/241 (20170801); B29C
2035/0827 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B29C
64/291 (20170101); B29C 64/30 (20170101); B29C
64/241 (20170101); B29C 71/04 (20060101); B33Y
30/00 (20150101); B33Y 40/20 (20200101); B29C
35/08 (20060101) |
Foreign Patent Documents
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201760389 |
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Mar 2011 |
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CN |
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206048827 |
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Mar 2017 |
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CN |
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206048827 |
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Mar 2017 |
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CN |
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107031051 |
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Aug 2017 |
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CN |
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Other References
International Search Report issued in corresponding International
Application No. PCT/CN2018/074527, dated Apr. 8, 2018, State
Intellectual Property Office of the P.R. China, Beijing, China.
cited by applicant .
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority issued in
corresponding International Application No. PCT/CN2018/074527,
dated Apr. 8, 2018. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Gaworecki; Mark R
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hauptman Ham, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product, comprising a
base (1), wherein a tray (2) is disposed above the base (1); the
tray (2) is horizontally and rotatably connected around a vertical
rotating shaft on the base (1); a hood (4) concentric with the tray
(2) is disposed on the base (1); the tray (2) is located in the
hood (4); UV light tubes (5) are arranged on an inner wall of the
hood (4); a fan is disposed on the hood (4); the interior of the
hood (4) is communicated with the exterior of the hood (4) by means
of the fan; the tray (2) provides a driving force by means of a
driving motor (3); and the driving motor (3) is fixed in the base
(1), wherein a convex ring A (8) is upwardly provided on the edge
of the top of the tray (2), and the convex ring A (8) and the tray
(2) are provided concentric with each other.
2. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 1, wherein the number of the UV light tubes (5) is plural;
and the UV light tubes (5) are respectively fixed to the inner wall
of a sidewall of the hood (4) and the inner wall of the top of the
hood (4).
3. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 2, wherein the UV light tubes (5) are annular light tubes,
and all the centers of the UV light tubes (5) are located on a
straight line where the axis of the tray (2) is located.
4. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 3, wherein the UV light tubes (5) located on the inner wall
of the sidewall of the hood (4) are respectively fixed on the inner
wall of the hood (4) along the inner wall of the sidewall of the
hood (4) from bottom to top, and the UV light tubes (5) located on
the inner wall of the top of the hood (4) are distributed in a
concentric ring manner.
5. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 4, wherein the distance between two adjacent UV light tubes
(5) located on the inner wall of the sidewall of the hood (4) is
equal; the distance between two adjacent UV light tubes (5) located
on the inner wall of the top of the hood (4) increases gradually in
an outside-in direction; and the distance between two adjacent UV
light tubes (5) located on the inner wall of the sidewall of the
hood (4) is equal to the distance between two adjacent UV light
tubes (5) located on the outermost side of the inner wall of the
top of the hood (4).
6. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 2, wherein the height of the UV light tubes (5) located on
the lowermost inner wall of the sidewall of the hood (4) is higher
than the height of the highest point of the top of the tray
(2).
7. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 1, wherein the bottom end of a sidewall of the hood (4) is
provided with a limiting groove (10); a limiting bump (9) is fixed
at the top surface of the base (1) corresponding to the limiting
groove (10); and the limiting bump (9) matches the limiting groove
(10).
8. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 7, wherein at least one limiting groove (10) and at least one
limiting bump (9) are correspondingly provided; when there is only
one limiting groove (10) and one limiting bump (9), the groove
bottom of the limiting groove (10) is downwardly provided with a
conductive pin (12), and a slot port (11) is provided at the top of
the limiting bump (9) corresponding to the conductive pin (12);
when there is more than one limiting groove (10) and limiting bump
(9), the groove bottom of one of the limiting grooves (10) is
downwardly provided with the conductive pin (12), and the slot port
(11) is provided at the top of the limiting bump (9) corresponding
to the conductive pin (12), the limiting bump (9) corresponding to
the limiting groove (10).
9. The UV curing apparatus for a 3D printing product according to
claim 1, wherein the 3D printing products are stacked on the tray
(2) by means of a hollow placement groove (6) having an open top;
the bottom of the hollow placement groove (6) is downwardly and
concentrically provided with a convex ring B (7); the external
diameter of the convex ring B (7) matches the internal diameter of
the convex ring A (8); and the internal diameter of a sidewall of
the hollow placement groove (6) is equal to the internal diameter
of the convex ring A (8).
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is a National Phase of International
Application Number PCT/CN2018/074527, filed Jan. 30, 2018, which
claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201710399857.9,
filed May 31, 2017.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the technical field of UV curing
of 3D printing products, and in particular, to a UV curing
apparatus for a 3D printing product.
BACKGROUND
3D Printing (3DP) is a type of rapid prototyping technology, and is
a technology which constructs an object in a layer-by-layer
printing way from a bonding material such as powdered metal or
plastic based on a digital model file.
The 3DP is generally implemented by using a digital technology
material printer. The 3DP is commonly used for model manufacturing
in the field such as mold manufacturing and industrial design, and
then is gradually used for direct manufacturing of some products.
Parts printed by using the technology exist. The technology is
applied to jewelries, footwear, industrial designs, Architecture
Engineering and Construction (AEC), automobiles, aeronautics and
astronautics, dental and medical industries, educations, geographic
information systems, civil engineering, firearms, and other
fields.
The 3DP product further needs to undergo a UV curing process. Since
the 3DP product has a certain thickness, a long UV curing time
period is required. However, there is no UV curing apparatus
specifically for the 3DP product on the current market, and the UV
curing device on the current market does not provide uniform UV
irradiation for the 3D product, and generally irradiates the 3D
product from one direction, resulting in incomplete and uneven UV
curing of the 3D product, and thus, the use of the 3D product is
affected.
SUMMARY
An objective of the present invention is to provide a UV curing
apparatus for a 3DP product to overcome deficiencies of the prior
art. Provided is a UV curing apparatus applicable to the 3D
product, so that the surface of the 3D product can be automatically
and uniformly subjected to UV curing. By means of a hollow
placement groove, the 3D product can be preferentially placed above
the inner top of a hood during curing, so that an irradiation
effect of a UV light tube at the inner top of the hood on the 3D
product is ensured. The sidewall and groove bottom of the hollow
placement groove and a convex ring B are of a hollow structure, so
that light emitted from the UV light tube can pass through the
hollow placement groove and irradiate the surface of the 3D
product, thereby ensuring the irradiation effect of the UV light of
the 3D product. The 3D products are arranged from top to bottom, so
that the irradiation effect of the UV light tube on the inner top
of the hood can be ensured as much as possible. The UV light tubes
on the inner sidewall of the hood are uniformly arranged, so that
the uniformity of the UV light irradiating on the surface of the 3D
product is ensured. The distance between two adjacent UV light
tubes on the inner top of the hood gradually increases in an
outside-in direction. Since an angle that the UV light tube in the
middle of the inner top of the hood can irradiate the 3D product is
maximum, and an angle that the UV light tube at a corresponding
position can irradiate the 3D product gradually decreases in the
inside-out direction, so that the uniformity of the UV light
irradiating on the surface of the 3D product is ensured by means of
different distances between two adjacent UV light tubes. The UV
light tube on the lowermost inner sidewall of the hood is higher
than a tray, so as to ensure that all UV light tubes can irradiate
the surface of the 3D product. The hood can be fixed to the base by
means of a limiting bump and a limiting groove. By means of a
conductive pin in the limiting groove and a slot port of the
limiting bump, the UV light tubes on the inner wall of the hood can
be electrically connected to a control apparatus of the base and a
power supply, and the structure is compact. The length of the
conductive pin is less than the groove depth of the limiting
groove, so that the conductive pin is prevented from bending and
even breaking, and the service life of the conductive pin is
prolonged. The hollow placement groove can be sequentially stacked
on the tray by means of a diameter relationship among a convex ring
A, the convex ring B and the inner wall of the hollow placement
groove. Heat generated during the irradiation of the UV light tube
in the hood is timely discharged out of the hood by means of a fan,
so as to ensure that the temperature within the hood is maintained
in a reasonable range.
The technical solution used by the present invention is:
a UV curing apparatus for a 3D printed product, including a base,
where the tray is disposed above the base; the tray is horizontally
and rotatably connected around a vertical rotating shaft on the
base; the hood concentric with the tray is provided on the base;
the tray is located in the hood; UV light tubes are arranged on an
inner wall of the hood; a fan is provided on the hood; the interior
of the hood is communicated with the exterior of the hood by means
of the fan; the tray provides a driving force by means of a driving
motor; and the driving motor is fixed in the base.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the number
of the UV light tubes is plural, and the UV light tubes are
respectively fixed to the inner wall of the sidewall of the hood
and the inner wall of the top of the hood.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the UV
light tubes are annular light tubes, and the centers of the UV
light tubes are all located on a straight line where the axis of
the tray is located.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the UV
light tubes located on the inner wall of the sidewall of the hood
are respectively fixed on the inner wall of the hood along the
inner wall of the sidewall of the hood from bottom to top, and the
UV light tubes located on the inner wall of the top of the hood are
distributed in a concentric ring manner.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the
distance between two adjacent UV light tubes located on the inner
wall of the sidewall of the hood is equal; the distance between two
adjacent UV light tubes located on the inner wall of the top of the
hood increases gradually in an outside-in direction; and the
distance between two adjacent UV light tubes located on the inner
wall of the sidewall of the hood is equal to the distance between
two adjacent UV light tubes located on the outermost side of the
inner wall of the top of the hood.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the height
of the UV light tubes located on the lowermost inner wall of the
sidewall of the hood is higher than the height of the highest point
of the top of the tray.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the bottom
end of the sidewall of the hood is provided with a limiting groove;
a limiting bump is fixed at the top surface of the base
corresponding to the limiting groove; and the limiting bump matches
the limiting groove.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: at least
one limiting groove and at least one limiting bump are
correspondingly provided; when there is only one limiting groove
and one limiting bump, the groove bottom of the limiting groove is
downwardly provided with a conductive pin, and a slot port is
provided at the top of the limiting bump corresponding to the
conductive pin; when there is more than one limiting groove and
limiting bump, the groove bottom of one of the limiting grooves is
downwardly provided with the conductive pin, and the slot port is
provided at the top of the limiting bump corresponding to the
conductive pin, the limiting bump corresponding to the limiting
groove.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the
conductive pin is electrically connected to the UV light tubes and
the fan; the slot port is electrically connected to the power
supply disposed in the base by means of the control apparatus
disposed in the base; and the driving motor is electrically
connected to the power supply by means of the control
apparatus.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the length
of the conductive pin is less than or equal to the groove depth of
the limiting groove.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: a convex
ring A is upwardly provided on the edge of the top of the tray, and
the convex ring A and the tray are provided concentric with each
other.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the 3DP
products are stacked on the tray by means of the hollow placement
groove having an open top; the bottom of the hollow placement
groove is downwardly and concentrically provided with the convex
ring B; the external diameter of the convex ring B matches the
internal diameter of the convex ring A; and the internal diameter
of the sidewall of the hollow placement groove is equal to the
internal diameter of the convex ring A.
A further improvement of the present invention is that: the groove
wall and groove bottom of the hollow placement groove and the
convex ring B are of a hollow structure.
The present invention has the following beneficial effects.
First, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the UV curing apparatus applicable to the 3D
product is provided, and the surface of the 3D product can be
automatically and uniformly subjected to UV curing.
Second, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, by means of the hollow placement groove, the
3D product can be preferentially placed above the inner top of a
hood during UV curing, so that the irradiation effect of the UV
light tube on the inner top of the hood for the 3D product is
ensured.
Third, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the sidewall and groove bottom of the hollow
placement groove and the convex ring B are of a hollow structure,
so that the light emitted from the UV light tube can pass through
the hollow placement groove and irradiate to the surface of the 3D
product, and the irradiation effect of the UV light of the 3D
product is ensured.
Fourth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the 3D products are arranged from top to
bottom, so that the irradiation effect of the UV light tube on the
inner top of the hood can be ensured as much as possible.
Fifth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the UV light tubes on the inner sidewall of
the hood are uniformly arranged, so that the uniformity of the UV
light irradiating on the surface of the 3D product is ensured.
Sixth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the distance between two adjacent UV light
tubes on the inner top of the hood gradually increases in an
outside-in direction. Since the angle that the UV light tube in the
middle of the inner top of the hood can irradiate the 3D product is
maximum, and an angle that the UV light tube at the corresponding
position can irradiate the 3D product gradually decreases in the
inside-out direction, so that the uniformity of the UV light
irradiating on the surface of the 3D product is ensured by means of
different distances between two adjacent UV light tubes.
Seventh, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the UV light tube on the lowermost inner
sidewall of the hood is higher than the tray, so as to ensure that
all UV light tubes can irradiate on the surface of the 3D
product.
Eighth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the hood can be fixed to the base by means
of the limiting bump and the limiting groove.
Ninth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, by means of the conductive pin in the
limiting groove and the slot port of the limiting bump, the UV
light tubes on the inner wall of the hood can be electrically
connected to the control apparatus of the base and the power
supply, and the structure is compact.
Tenth, according to the UV curing apparatus for 3DP product in the
present invention, the length of the conductive pin is less than
the groove depth of the limiting groove, so that the conductive pin
is prevented from bending and even breaking, and the service life
of the conductive pin is prolonged.
Eleventh, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, the hollow placement groove can be
sequentially stacked on the tray by means of the diameter
relationship among the convex ring A, the convex ring B and the
inner wall of the hollow placement groove.
Twelfth, according to the UV curing apparatus for a 3DP product in
the present invention, heat generated during the irradiation of the
UV light tube in the hood is timely discharged out of the hood by
means of the fan, so as to ensure that the temperature within the
hood is maintained in the reasonable range.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The drawing is a schematic front sectional view of the structure
according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As shown in the drawing, the present invention includes a base 1. A
tray 2 is disposed above the base 1. The tray 2 is horizontally and
rotatably connected around a vertical rotating shaft on the base 1.
A hood 4 concentric with the tray 2 is provided on the base 1. The
tray 2 is located in the hood 4, and UV light tubes 5 are arranged
on the inner wall of the hood 4. A fan (not shown) is disposed on
the hood 4. The interior of the hood 4 is communicated with the
exterior of the hood 4 by means of the fan. The tray 2 provides a
driving force by means of a driving motor 3. The driving motor 3 is
fixed in the base 1. The number of the UV light tubes 5 is plural,
and the UV light tubes 5 are respectively fixed to the inner wall
of the sidewall of the hood 4 and the inner wall of the top of the
hood 4. The UV light tubes 5 are annular light tubes, and all the
centers of the UV light tubes 5 are located on a straight line
where the axis of the tray 2 is located. The UV light tubes 5
located on the inner wall of the sidewall of the hood 4 are
respectively fixed on the inner wall of the hood 4 along the inner
wall of the sidewall of the hood 4 from bottom to top, and the UV
light tubes 5 located on the inner wall of the top of the hood 4
are distributed in a concentric ring manner. The distance between
two adjacent UV light tubes 5 located on the inner wall of the
sidewall of the hood 4 is equal. The distance between two adjacent
UV light tubes 5 located on the inner wall of the top of the hood 4
increases gradually in an outside-in direction, and the distance
between two adjacent UV light tubes 5 located on the inner wall of
the sidewall of the hood 4 is equal to the distance between two
adjacent UV light tubes 5 located on the outermost side of the
inner wall of the top of the hood 4. The height of the UV light
tubes 5 located on the lowermost inner wall of the sidewall of the
hood 4 is higher than the height of the highest point of the top of
the tray 2. The bottom end of the sidewall of the hood 4 is
provided with a limiting groove 10. A limiting bump 9 is fixed at
the top surface of the base 1 corresponding to the limiting groove
10. The limiting bump 9 matches the limiting groove 10. At least
one limiting groove 10 and at least one limiting bump 9 are
correspondingly provided. When there is only one limiting groove 10
and one limiting bump 9, the groove bottom of the limiting groove
10 is downwardly provided with a conductive pin 12, and a slot port
11 is provided at the top of the limiting bump 9 corresponding to
the conductive pin 12. When there is more than one limiting groove
10 and limiting bump 9, the groove bottom of one of the limiting
grooves 10 is downwardly provided with the conductive pin 12, and
the slot port 11 is provided at the top of the limiting bump 9
corresponding to the conductive pin 12, limiting bump 9
corresponding to the limiting groove 10. The conductive pin 12 is
electrically connected to the UV light tubes 5 and the fan. The
slot port 11 is electrically connected to the power supply disposed
in the base 1 by means of the control apparatus disposed in the
base 1. The driving motor 3 is electrically connected to the power
supply by means of the control apparatus. The length of the
conductive pin 12 is less than or equal to the groove depth of the
limiting groove 10. A convex ring A8 is upwardly provided on the
edge of the top of the tray 2, and the convex ring A8 and the tray
2 are provided concentric with each other. The 3DP products are
stacked on the tray 2 by means of a hollow placement groove 6
having an open top. The bottom of the hollow placement groove 6 is
downwardly and concentrically provided with a convex ring B7. The
external diameter of the convex ring B7 matches the internal
diameter of the convex ring A8. The internal diameter of the
sidewall of the hollow placement groove 6 is equal to the internal
diameter of the convex ring A8. The groove wall and groove bottom
of the hollow placement groove 6 and the convex ring B7 are of a
hollow structure.
During the use of the present invention, the hood 4 is first
separated from the base 1. If it is only necessary to perform UV
curing on one 3D product, the hollow placement groove 6 is limited
and fixed to the tray 2 by means of the convex ring B7 on the
bottom of the hollow placement groove 6, then the hollow placement
groove 6 is stacked upwardly by means of the convex ring B7 and the
hollow placement groove 6, and then the 3D product requiring UV
curing is placed in the uppermost layer of the hollow placement
groove 6. If it is necessary to perform UV curing on multiple 3D
products simultaneously, the 3D products are sequentially placed in
the stacked hollow placement groove 6 from top to bottom, and the
top of the uppermost layer of the hollow placement groove 6 and the
top of the 3D product placed in the uppermost layer of the hollow
placement groove 6 are ensured to be lower than the UV light tube 5
on the top of the hood 4; then the hood 4 is fixed to the base 1 by
means of the limiting groove 10 and the limiting bump 9, and the
conductive pin 12 is inserted in the slot port 11, so that the UV
light tube 5 and the fan are electrically connected to the control
apparatus; the control apparatus controls the UV light tubes 5 on
the inner top of the hood 4 to illuminate, controls, according to
the number of the 3D products on the base 1, the UV light tubes 5
on the inner sidewall of the hood 4 to illuminate, and
simultaneously controls the fan to start; furthermore, the control
apparatus also controls the driving motor 3 to drive the tray 2 to
rotate, and drives, by means of the rotation of the tray 2, the 3D
product in the hollow placement groove 6 to simultaneously rotate,
so that the surface of the 3D product can be uniformly irradiated
by the UV light tubes 5, and not only the UV curing efficiency of
the 3D product is improved, but also the UV curing effect of the 3D
product is ensured. After the UV curing is completed, it is only
required to open the hood 4, then the hollow placement groove 6 is
sequentially taken down, and the 3D product is taken out of the
hollow placement groove 6.
* * * * *